Perennial Capitalism: reflections on capitalism stabilization from Lukács and critical theory

Author(s)

Vladimir Ferrari Puzone

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-08-27

Examining board members

Ricardo Musse; Ruy Gomes Braga Neto; Silvio Cesar Camargo; Jorge Luis da Silva Grespan; Wolfgang Leo Maar

• Advisor: Ricardo Musse

Abstract

This dissertation aims to understand capitalism stabilization throughout different periods in twentieth century, namely through the reading of three works of the so called Western Marxism, which represent turning points in the discussion of the subject: History and Class Consciousness, written by Georg Lukács, Dialectic of Enlightenment, by Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, and One-dimensional Man, written by Herbert Marcuse. In comparing these books with debates on transformations of capitalism in the periods in which each of them was written, this thesis seeks to understand through which mechanisms and institutions capitalist society was able to overcome its crises and become second nature to individuals, being accepted as the only possible form of society. In this sense, the authors discussed in my work distinguish themselves, not only because they recover and criticize important aspects about the stabilization of capitalism, but also because they present innovative elucidations and concepts regarding historical changes in the twentieth century. Lastly, each of the analysis presented in my work offers alternatives to comprehend the current historical stage in which bourgeois society finds itself (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/02173-1 - Perennial capitalism: a study about the concepts of reification and reproduction
• Grantee: Vladimir Ferrari Puzone
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate